Post by gw on May 18, 2007 19:54:44 GMT -1
Sunderland manager Roy Keane has released Kenny Cunningham and Tommy Miller as he prepares for life in the Premiership next season.
Keane's former Republic of Ireland team-mate Cunningham, 35, has been told he will not be offered a new deal.
The 28-year-old Miller, who signed on a free transfer from Ipswich in 2005, is also free to leave.
Kevin Smith, 20, has also been released while the club have decided not to keep the 24-year-old William Mocquet.
Cunningham joined the club last summer on a free transfer from Birmingham and started the first 11 games of the season.
But injury forced him out of the side and he made just one further appearance after returning to full fitness.
Miller made 29 appearances in the club's Premiership campaign of 2005-06 and started the first three games of the new season.
But the boyhood Sunderland fan became surplus to requirements after Keane's arrival and was sent out on loan to Preston.
He returned to the bench towards the end of Sunderland's charge up the Championship table, but his last game for the club came as a substitute at Barnsley on 10 March.
Scottish striker Smith joined the Black Cats from Leeds in January in 2006, but did not make a senior appearance and spent part of this season on loan at Wrexham.
Mocquet, 24, was another who was sent out on loan, this time to Rochdale and Bury, and did not figure for the first team.
The club had the option of retaining the former France Under-21 international midfielder but have decided against it.
Keane's former Republic of Ireland team-mate Cunningham, 35, has been told he will not be offered a new deal.
The 28-year-old Miller, who signed on a free transfer from Ipswich in 2005, is also free to leave.
Kevin Smith, 20, has also been released while the club have decided not to keep the 24-year-old William Mocquet.
Cunningham joined the club last summer on a free transfer from Birmingham and started the first 11 games of the season.
But injury forced him out of the side and he made just one further appearance after returning to full fitness.
Miller made 29 appearances in the club's Premiership campaign of 2005-06 and started the first three games of the new season.
But the boyhood Sunderland fan became surplus to requirements after Keane's arrival and was sent out on loan to Preston.
He returned to the bench towards the end of Sunderland's charge up the Championship table, but his last game for the club came as a substitute at Barnsley on 10 March.
Scottish striker Smith joined the Black Cats from Leeds in January in 2006, but did not make a senior appearance and spent part of this season on loan at Wrexham.
Mocquet, 24, was another who was sent out on loan, this time to Rochdale and Bury, and did not figure for the first team.
The club had the option of retaining the former France Under-21 international midfielder but have decided against it.